Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Project Details

Very rarely, people with epilepsy can have a seizure (usually a convulsion) and die soon after. This tragic event is known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). In order to work towards preventing SUDEP, we need better understanding of how and why it happens. Together with Prof Chis Semsarian, cardiologist, and Dr Richard Bagnall, genetic scientist, from the Centenary Institute in Sydney, we are searching for genes that may increase risk of SUDEP by looking for gene changes in people who have died of SUDEP. We are also meeting the close relatives of people who have died of SUDEP, as studying the wider family may provide additional useful information about the risks of SUDEP.